The Dartmouth police are tackling prescription drug abuse through a new collection unit.

The drug receptacle will be located in the lobby of the police station on 249 Russells Mills Rd. and will allow residents to dispose of unwanted, unused or expired medication or controlled substances in a safe, environmentally responsible way. The site is open to the public 24/7, and drugs can be dropped off with no questions asked.

Reducing the amount of unnecessary or unneeded medications in ones home may help reduce the risk of drug abuse, especially among teenagers. Disposing medication in the receptacle will prevent drugs from contaminating landfills and water supplies.

The department received a grant to install the unit from CVS Pharmacy. CVS has teamed up with The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids, a campaign to reduce teen substance abuse and support families affected by addiction, to have 1,000 drug collection units installed throughout the country.

The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids can provide families with support and guidance related to teen drug abuse. The Partnership is reachable at drugfree.org and at 1-855-DRUGFREE.

On a local level, concerned families can reach out to youth advocate Jen Cabral to discuss these issues. Her office number is 508-910-1855.